Accreditation for Management System Certification Bodies
You may see statements such as "ISO 9001 certified" or "ISO 14001 certified" in advertisements of companies and organizations (schools, hospitals, etc.), guides, business cards, etc. This indicates that an impartial body has certified that the company or organization (hereafter collectively referred to as "organizations") has established and is operating a system for conducting its business in order to achieve its stated goals. The standards used for this certification are "ISO 9001" or "ISO 14001," which are internationally recognized standards for management systems.
A management system is a mechanism for establishing policies and goals and appropriately directing and controlling organizations to achieve those goals. Certification refers to the process by which a third party (certification body) audits and certifies that a product, process, etc. conforms to the requirements of a specific standard or other criteria. General consumers and business partners can use this as a criterion for selecting products and services. Accreditation is the process of assessing and announcing whether the certification body meets standards for competence, impartiality and safety, etc. and JAB is an accreditation body that provides accreditation.
Certification bodies accredited by JAB can be found in the "Accredited CABs". Organizations certified by JAB-accredited certification bodies can be found in "Search for certified organizations".
Types of Management Systems
Typical examples are:
- Quality Management System (QMS)
A system (customer-focused system) that can provide products/services consistently with specifications that meet the requirements of suppliers and customers. A representative international standard is ISO 9001. - Environmental Management System (EMS)
A series of systems (environmentally friendly systems) designed to minimize environmental impact as much as possible. A representative international standard is ISO 14001. - Food Safety Management System (FSMS)
A system (food safety assurance system) that ensures safe food products for consumers through the production and processing of food materials. A representative international standard is ISO 22000. - Information Security Management System (ISMS)
A system (security system) that ensures that information important to the organization is readily available when needed and properly protected. A representative international standard is ISO/IEC 27001. - Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS)
A series of systems that prevent occupational accidents in an organization and ensure the safety not only of workers and their families, but also of society as a whole. A representative international standard is ISO 45001. - Asset Management System (AMS)
A system specifying requirements for asset management, including the establishment, implementation, maintenance, and improvement of management systems. A representative international standard is ISO 55001.
Sector standards
Benefits
Management System Certification
- For general consumers and business partners
It provides confidence that the organization is operating with a solid structure and that expected results will be achieved. It can also serve as an alternative to directly auditing organizations. - For certified organizations
By indicating in writing or with a certification mark that the organization is certified, the organization can demonstrate its credibility to the general public and business partners.
Periodic certification audits enable the organization to continuously maintain and improve its management system.
How does a company become certified to management systems?
Next, select a certification body that can audit the type of management system and the industry in which the organization operates. Please refer to the list of management system certification bodies accredited by JAB. Select a certification body based on the scope of accreditation and its track record as an accredited body. The time required from application to certification depends on the size of the organization and the degree of system readiness. Since details such as costs also vary among certification bodies, we recommend consulting with several certification bodies for comparison. For more information on management system certification, please contact each certification body directly.
